Tenancy strategies:Tenancy strategies:can we do better together?can we do better together?

Sue Beecroft

Housing co-ordinator

Cambridge housing sub-region

The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe Cambridge housing sub-region

One of four growth areas

History of joint working between planners (since 1974) and housing officers (CRHB)

LDV set up in 2004 to support

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Structure Plan evolved into East of England Plan

And now? Continued support for good quality growth

www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/documents/quality_panel/quality_charter_2010.pdf

The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe Cambridge housing sub-region

Greater Cambridge - Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership

Covers 13 partners

Board up and running

Bidding for Enterprize Zone

Business plan being drafted

Practicalities being agreed

www.yourlocalenterprisepartnership.co.uk

The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe Cambridge housing sub-region

Seven districts, two counties

To meet the housing challenge, partners worked together on:

– Housing co-ordinator

– SHMA + research officer

– Home-Link CBL system

– HomeTrack subscription x 7

www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/shma

Localism Bill

LIP

LEP

Supported housing

New Homes Bonus

Affordable Rents

Private rented

Other resources

RP plans

HCA funding

Jigsaw piecesJigsaw pieces

?

Housing prioritiesHousing priorities

We work to share learning and experience across our seven districts, to…– Support economic growth through new homes

– Create balanced, mixed, sustainable communities

– Improve existing homes

– Tackle homelessness and meet housing need

– Secure better health through housing and support

Each has links to tenancy strategy work

Do we have enough in common?Do we have enough in common?

Established working between partners Political differences Stock differences Are there areas we can work together on, such as

– Sharing data– Communications and terminology– Access, choice and equalities– Monitoring outcomes and trends– Agreeing on outputs

DataData

Stock and tenure profile

Stock turnover and type

Housing markets

Current rent levels and affordability

Incomes

Housing needs register: size needed

Lettings to general needs and sheltered housing

Length of residence

Moves out of social housing

Effect of welfare reforms locally

Effect of tenures and tenancy management

Plans for new homes

Example: rents and allowancesExample: rents and allowances Using SHMA and hometrack

data, average weekly rent for a 3 bed

Ranges from £100pw…(one ward only!)

…to more than £300pw Mid range values £150 to

£199 (60% of our wards) Impact at the extremes,

gives evidence to support “affordable rents” may only be affordable if <80% of private rent levels

This map shows the local housing allowance (LHA) based on 3-bed median

Example: rents and allowancesExample: rents and allowances

http://atlas.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Housing/LHA/atlas.html

Communication: we want to…Communication: we want to…

Minimise confusion

Make housing options clear through Homelink both at start and end of fixed term tenancies

Clarify housing choices without reducing involvement, understanding and participation. Includes affordability issues

Support and maintain strong links with housing providers

Example: LanguageExample: Language

Lifetime Fixed term Secure Assured Assured shorthold Temporary Flexible

Affordable Social Sheltered Supported Intermediate Introductory Probationary

Example: LanguageExample: Language

Lifetime Fixed term Secure Assured Assured shorthold Temporary Flexible

Affordable Social Sheltered Supported Intermediate Introductory Probationary

Need to monitorNeed to monitor

Levels and bands of housing need

Homelessness and repeat homelessness

Rent levels for new and existing homes

Void times, especially following end of a flexible tenancy

Where and how fixed terms are used

Who gets which product – is access equitable?

www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/shma

And trends…And trends…

Numbers of new homes built, tenures and terms

Overall effects on housing needs and housing market, the “balance”

Effect on development activity – all homes and affordable

Effect on site viability

Outcome of term-end reviews overall

Effect on community and family stability

Possible outputs…Possible outputs…

To save each district and partner making individual effort, we could

Devise an “umbrella” strategy: agreed principles with district detail and possibly partner’s links nested within

Include tenancy issues within a new sub-regional housing strategy

Monitor investment and outcomes in our LIPs Monitor the effect on markets via data analysis in SHMA

provided we identify the indicators needed Need to remember public scrutiny – so need accessible

information

TimelineTimeline

Autumn 2010 Affordable Rent and flexible tenancies invented

May 2011 Bids submitted to HCA for next 4 years programme including conversions and disposals

June 2011 PPS3 amended so AR defined as affordable for planning purposes

June 2011+ Providers working on Tenancy Policies

Late 2011? Expect Localism Bill to be passed

+ 12 months Authorities to publish tenancy strategies

In summary…In summary…

Customer is central What effect on our housing

market?

Working together is more essential than ever

For all partners we want co-ordination…

…not fragmentation

…if we are to tackle tenancies together